Kalibo’s Pińa Village

 

 

There are two reasons why people fly to Kalibo – Ati-Atihan Festival and Boracay Island. If you are looking for a side trip or  other things to do while in Kalibo or Aklan, visit Pi?a Village.

 

What is the Pina Village by the way?

Aklan’s top local product is the Pi?a Jusi or Philippine silk from the red variety of pineapple. This fabric is the most exquisite among other fabrics with its sheen, luminosity and softness. Primarily used in Philippine costumes like the Barong Tagalog and the Terno, modern designers now use it for gowns and has been showcased in international fashion shows.

 

I came across it for my March 2010  Mabuhay magazine article, “Fruit of the Loom”.

What you will basically experience at the Pi?a Village is how the Pi?a Jusi is produced from the pineapple plant before woven into the loom as one of the best fabrics of the world.

From Leaf to Loom

The pineapple variety for the Pi?a Jusi is not the one you nibble at your table. The sandy soil of Aklan makes it suitable for this red pineapple variety.

Only the leaves are used to produce the fiber

Carefully washed and dried, the end part of the leaf is lifted off. Then with a ceramic ( a chip from a plate) is used to delicately scrape off the harder outer layer of the leaf

After the skin has been removed and the fiber is about to be revealed, coconut shell is used in scraping which is less abrasive

And there it is..

There are two kinds of fiber – the smoother type and the rougher type which is called as bastos ( rude ). Slowly lifted off…

Washed with water and mild detergent.

Hanged for air-drying. Looks like a blond hair..

Once dried, each single thread is flaked

They are divided into two..one batch is spun into the spool

While the others are carefully placed in the turbine

Now they are all set for this loom with all the fibers assembled beforehand

And the weaving starts..

After interlacing the Pi?a fiber ( now thread-like) into warps and wefts… the fabric gracefully emerges

A fabric venerated by fashion houses. Ladies and gentlemen, Philippine’s best – pina jusi

Wish I have a video to share but it’s a reason for you to personally witness this production. During our visit, the whole tour costs 3,500 – perfect for company tours or those with foreign visitors.  Great for those looking for a learning experience in Kalibo or Aklan.

They also sell the fabric. I think it was 800/meter (?).

To know more about the Pina Village, contact
Aklan Provincial Tourism Office
Provincial Capitol, Kalibo, Aklan
Tel.: (036)262-4692

You can share but do not steal!

More about Kalibo

Aklan Museum

Sampaguita Gardens

Sin in New Washington